STAR PREVIEW: Sheffield United v Arsenal

Sheffield United are back in the big time with Monday Night Football at Bramall Lane, and there could be plenty for them to get excited about against Arsenal. Chris Wilder’s men were odds on for relegation but they have made a reasonable start to proceedings in the top flight, with nine points from their opening eight games, a reasonable return for a promoted side.

Wilder has proven effective tactically, with a 3-5-2 formation that sees the Blades employ plenty of width thanks to the effective distribution of Chris Basham at centre back that has given opposing sides a lot to think about.

Wilder will have a tense wait to see if John Fleck, Oli McBurnie and David McGoldrick will be fit but United have proven to be resourceful, with all seven of their goals scored by different players, including two own goals.

Arsenal are currently fifth in the table, and can leapfrog Chelsea and Leicester into third with a win here. That is a reasonable position for Unai Emery’s men at this point, but the Gunners are beset by the same problems as last season; a weak defence and terrible away form.

Since beating Newcastle on the opening weekend, the Gunners are winless in their three away league games. Under Unai Emery, they have kept just two clean sheets in 23 away Premier League matches, those being 1-0 wins at Watford and Newcastle. Watford were reduced to ten men on that occasion when a Ben Foster howler and a needless Troy Deeney red card turned the game on its head there, and Newcastle have been abject for much of the season.

Sheffield United v Arsenal
Premier League
20:00 Sky Sports Premier League / Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Ultra HD

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches, since 2000)
SEP 2008 CARLING CUP Arsenal 6-0 Sheffield United
OCT 2007 CARLING CUP Sheffield United 0-3 Arsenal
DEC 2006 PREMIERSHIP Sheffield United 1-0 Arsenal
SEP 2006 PREMIERSHIP Arsenal 3-0 Sheffield United
MAR 2005 FA CUP Sheffield United 0-0 Arsenal
FEB 2005 FA CUP Arsenal 1-1 Sheffield United
APR 2003 FA CUP Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield United

Arsenal’s defensive prospects might be helped by the return of Rob Holding, Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney to something like full fitness but even with a full squad Arsenal have struggled on the road and the hosts should have little to fear.

Sheffield United have already built up a solid record against the league’s better sides, too. They were hideously unlucky to lose 1-0 to Liverpool thanks to a Dean Henderson error in goal, they drew 2-2 against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and also won 2-0 at Everton.

It might be a concern that United have lost four of their last five home matches in all competitions but Arsenal’s away record is almost as poor and this could be another tricky evening for the Gunners.

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